Motorists suffer after two on-road brawls

Motorists in Rawalpindi faced the worst traffic jams at two busiest places in the city following two confrontations between the city traffic police officials and the motorists on Tuesday.

The incidents sparked severe traffic congestion at GPO Chowk and Hyder Road in the Cantonment area as motorists used to clear the traffic themselves.

The first altercation between city traffic police and citizens occurred near Sasktay Road Chowk. A traffic police officer instructed a car rider to move to the side, leading to a verbal spat that quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between them.

Following the incident, the traffic police filed a report at the Newtown police station detailing the events. According to the complaint, Aitzaz, who was driving a car from Faizabad, collided with a motorcycle. When stopped, Aitzaz was instructed to move his vehicle along the roadside, but he responded aggressively, both verbally and physically.

He attempted to flee by getting into the car, but the officer stopped the vehicle and apprehended him. However, the situation escalated when Aitzaz's siblings arrived and assaulted the official, resulting in the loss of his wireless device and damage to his mobile phone. Newtown police registered a case and initiated an investigation.

The second incident erupted near Hyder Road within the Cantt police jurisdiction. During rush hour, a traffic officer was managing the flow when other officials, positioned at a distance, stopped motorcycles and issued challans for helmet violations and other offences.

At the intersection, a motorcycle carrying two WASA employees ignored the halted traffic and proceeded forward, prompting the traffic official to intervene. A heated argument ensued, with both parties exchanging bitter words, soon drawing in other traffic police personnel and motorcyclists.

A video footage also emerged showing a traffic police officer pulling the collar of a young man, with the young man's clothes appearing torn. Traffic police officials subsequently called for backup from the Cantt police station, and both employees were shifted to the police station. When contacted, DSP Traffic Cantt Afzal Shah clarified that the motorcyclists had been travelling on the wrong side. When stopped by the traffic official, they identified themselves as government employees and attempted to bypass the official, leading to a physical confrontation.

DSP Shah claimed that a traffic police official was also injured in the scuffle. However, the motorcyclists were taken to the police station, and a case is currently being registered.